Team USA shines at IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Sao Paulo

U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Team member Richard Browne led Team USA with a second-place finish in the men’s 100-meter (T42/44) at the International Paralympic Committee Athletics Grand Prix, which ran from April 24-26 in Sao Paulo.

Browne, who earned silver in the 100 at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, clocked in at 11.27 seconds to finish as the runner-up in Thursday’s race. Australia’s Scott Reardon took first, while Atsushi Yamamoto of Japan rounded out the podium in third.

Also competing for Team USA in the 100m was Paul Peterson, who crossed the line in 11.73 seconds to take fourth place overall.

In the men’s 400 (T44), U.S. sprinter David Prince was the sole competitor. After winning bronze in the 400 at both the London Games and the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships, Prince strained his abductor late last season. He did not disappoint in his first 400 post-injury, finishing with a time (52.84) that was just over two seconds slower than the one he clocked at the 2013 world championships.

Browne was also scheduled to compete in the 200, but he pulled out of the race due to a calf injury sustained during warm-up. Browne had set an unofficial world record of 21.91 seconds in the 200 the previous week at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.

Overall, more than 400 athletes from 16 countries competed in Sao Paulo, including at least 20 medalists from the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships.

The IPC Athletics Grand Prix series continues May 9-11 in Mesa, Arizona, with the Desert Challenge Games hosted by Arizona Disabled Sports. The meet will mark the fourth of nine stops on the Grand Prix series and is the only stop on U.S. soil. For more information, visit desertchallengegames.com.